Wake County Economic Development (WCED) executive director Adrienne Cole sits on the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board, the board that governs the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

"New service to an international gateway such as Paris will maximize the Triangle's reach as a global economic player," said Cole.

From Delta's joint venture hub in Paris, customers can connect to more than 75 onward destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, increasing global access for the Triangle - a region with strong international ties through its world-class universities and global companies. The daily flight will be Delta's 13th destination from Paris and the only nonstop link between the two cities.

Nonstop service between RDU and CDG will provide improved connections to new foreign destinations, increasing the Triangle region's global business opportunities and ability to attract highly-skilled talent.